In a letter to ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone and his boss CVC boss Donald Mackenzie, di Montezemolo said the desires of younger fans are being ignored as the sport obsesses over cost cutting.

And he wants to create an open forum involving teams, promoters, the media and television companies to urgently discuss the way forward.

He has even offered to host talks at Maranello ahead of Ferrari's home race in Italy on September 7.

Sources say the current path of cost cutting, renewable energies, reduced speed and engine capacity is not one of interest to Ferrari as a supercar manufacturer.

In recent months Maranello is said to have investigated an enlarged presence in sportscar racing and events such as Le Mans.

But a team spokesman said that was far from the truth: "Quite the contrary. Le Mans is an attractive platform which we continue to monitor but Formula 1 has been Ferrari's life for over half a century and our present focus is on returning to a consistent winning form.

"Behind the scenes there is much going on and the efforts of Montezemolo, coupled by Marco Mattiacci's new leadership, are concentrated solely on this front."

Ferrari faces pressure from disgruntled fans over another season of mediocrity and criticism within its own ranks from the likes of lead driver Fernando Alonso who has been linked to a move to both Mercedes and Red Bull in the next two years.

And it faces scepticism from rival teams over its motives.

More than once in the past Ferrari has broken ranks to do deals that have bettered its own future but scuppered collective negotiations.